Last night was quite the occasion for artists in the Irish music industry as the RTÉ Choice Music Prize awards took place in Dublin’s Vicar street.
Hosted and broadcast by RTÉ 2FM, the 18th annual awards show has become one of the music-industry highlights of the year since its inception in 2005.
With plenty of awards to go around, the night saw the likes of CMAT, Sinéad O’Connor and Fontaines praised for their musical talent.
CMAT was named the winner of the Choice Music Prize for Album Of The Year, for her debut “If My Wife New I’d Be Dead”, and although the singer is currently abroad on tour, the award was collected on her behalf by Irish drag queen Lavender.
So so honoured to have the legend that is @SineadOConnor here to collect her Irish Classic Album award tonight. pic.twitter.com/0H6Ny9fM4p
— RTÉ Choice Music (@choiceprize) March 9, 2023
Conor Curley from Fontaines D.C. picked up the band’s Irish Artist of the Year prize, while Moncrieff accepted the Song of the Year prize virtually from Los Angeles for his single “Warm”, which was chosen from a shortlist of 10 songs by public vote.
Dave Fanning presented Sinéad O’ Conor with her award for the Classic Irish Album “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” while 25-year-old singer-songwriter Cian Ducrot was named the Breakthrough Irish Artist of the Year.
The night featured exclusive performances from several of the Choice Prize nominees, including Just Mustard, Aoife Nessa Frances, Pillow Queens, Anna Mieke and Thumper.
CMAT, who secured the top award for her album received a cheque for €10,000, which is provided by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), as well as a specially commissioned award.
RTÉ2 will broadcast a one-hour TV programme of the RTÉ Choice Music Prize on Thursday 16 March at 10.30pm.